We've covered the United States and Canada. today, we cross the Atlantic to discuss the healthcare System in France. Their system is a combination of universal social insurance with some optional private overlays. It's expensive (relative to most), but it's arguably the best in the world. Watch and learn why.
Those of you who want to read more and see references can go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=55033
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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There's just no way to talk about marijuana without someone completely misinterpreting what I say. Some of you are going to call me a fascist for saying anything bad about pot. Others are going to attack me for not coming down on it hard enough. But the truth of the matter is that many things that are far more dangerous than pot are totally legal in this country. That's not my opinion, it's what scientific studies show us. No one is saying marijuana is totally safe. But is it so bad for you that it should be illegal, even though it has benefits? Watch and decide. Happy weed day.
Those of you who want to read more and see references can go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=54913
And, yes, we do know about the new study on brain development, which came out long after we taped. But as with a lot of research, it's being totally misinterpreted by the media. Go check out the references to see a nice article where the author of the study says the same thing.
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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Salty foods are delicious, but for decades we've been told that sodium in our diets is a bad thing. Recent studies suggest that while limiting salt intake is probably a good idea for people with high blood pressure, it probably isn't helpful for people who don't have blood pressure issues. In fact, an extremely low salt diet may even be more harmful than a more standard intake.
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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As we've explained in previous episodes, insurance is complicated. Even John gets confused (watch the video!). But there's a reason we have all these deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance. It's because of the moral hazard, and a very important research study known as the RAND Health Insurance Experiment. Watch this episode and learn all about it.
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Here's more info on the RAND HIE: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/the-moral-hazard/
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen - Graphics
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One of the things that baffles me about people is how they completely misunderstand risk. Lots of my friends panic about things that have no real chance of killing them, but ignore the things that will. This can lead us to make irrational decisions, and sometimes irrational policy. What really will kill us? Watch and learn.
Make sure you subscribe above so you don't miss any upcoming episodes!
References can be found here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=53600
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Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen - Graphics
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The last international health care system we covered – Singapore – got a great response from all of you. This week. We head back to Europe. Specifically, we're going to Germany. Their universal health care system is based on the principles of Bismark, which say that the state should provide only for those unable to provide for themselves. It's a private insurance system, and it's the topic of this week's Healthcare Triage.
Those of you who want to read more and see references can go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=57058
Additionally, Aaron's new book is out! Please consider buying a copy. He'd really appreciate it! http://dontputthatinthere.com/#buy_the_book
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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Last week I talked about the many ways exercise is awesome. This week I want to focus on one way it's not. Weight loss. Sorry, but that's the topic of this week's Healthcare Triage.
Those of you who want to read more can go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=64147
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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http://www.twitter.com/johngreen
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And the housekeeping:
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Does a positive test mean that you have a disease? Does a negative test mean you're healthy? Unfortunately, the answer to both these questions isn't a definitive "yes". How good a test is depends on it's sensitivity and specificity. Learn about both, and why understanding these test characteristics is so important. Next week we'll talk about what this all means in part II of this series, The Bayes Theorem.
The Vermont Study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3611728/
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen - Graphics
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One of the problems with the way we discuss health interventions is that we see them in black and white. Something is either good for you or bad for you. Things are rarely that simple, though. Moreover, there's "good for you" and "GOOD FOR YOU". How do you tell the difference? Watch and learn.
Almost all of the data for this came from the amazing website TheNNT (http://thennt.com). You can go there to see those and more.
Additionally, Aaron's new book is out! Please consider buying a copy. He'd really appreciate it! http://dontputthatinthere.com/#buy_the_book
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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There are so, so many diets out there. Some are low in fat, others are low in carbs. Some involve special foods, others tell you to avoid them. So what's the best diet for you? Watch and learn!
Most of the data for this episode comes from this recent paper in JAMA: http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1900510
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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Everyone talks about condoms as a way to prevent pregnancy. They're good, but nowhere near perfect. The pill is even better. But want to know what's amazing? Intrauterine devices, or IUDs. Why don't women use IUDs? They were pretty rare for a long time. But they're making a resurgence. They're also the topic of this week's Healthcare Triage.
Those of you who want to read more can go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=65152
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
http://www.twitter.com/aaronecarroll
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http://www.twitter.com/johngreen
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And the housekeeping:
1) You can support Healthcare Triage on Patreon: http://vid.io/xqXr Every little bit helps make the show better!
2) Check out our Facebook page: http://goo.gl/LnOq5z
3) We still have merchandise available at http://www.hctmerch.com

We've been getting a lot of requests to talk about the health care systems of different countries. It's really hard to compress the complexities of each into an episode, but we're going to try. First up is the United States. Others will follow, including next week.
Make sure you subscribe above so you don't miss any upcoming episodes!
Here are references for all the stuff I talk about:
John's video on health care costs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSjGouBmo0M
Aaron's series on costs: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/what-makes-the-us-health-care-system-so-expensive-introduction/
Aaron's series on quality: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/how-do-we-rate-the-quality-of-the-us-health-care-system-introduction/
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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This is another one of those videos that I expect many of you to hate. Gluten is surprisingly polarizing. Of course, most of the evidence that many of you will throw at me are anecdotes. And we all know that the plural of "anecdote" is not "data". So let's talk about gluten, and whether a gluten-free diet is for you. "Spoiler" – for the vast majority of you, the answer is "no".
For those of you who want to read more or see references, look here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=57683
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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Is there a mother out there who doesn't warn their children that going out in the cold is going to make them sick? Have you heard that old chestnut about losing all of your body's heat through your head? Do you think drinking alcohol will warm you up?
All myths! We'll discuss them on this week's Healthcare Triage.
For those of you who want to read more, go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=60130
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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We've done the US, Canada, and France. None of them are really socialized healthcare systems. To get at that, we need to go look at a system like that of the UK. More specifically, we're going to talk about England's National Health Service. See what a real "government run" system looks like, how it compares to yours, and what's good (and not so good) about it.
For those of you who want more information or references, go here:
http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=55536
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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How much water should you drink every day? Not as much as you've been told. This summer, like many summers before it, has seen a rash of articles warning us not only that is dehydration is dangerous, but that it is also ubiquitous. Real dehydration, when your body has lost a significant amount of water because of illness, excessive exercise or sweating, or an inability to drink, is a serious issue. But people with clinical dehydration almost always have symptoms of some sort.
These reports are worried about something completely different. They fear that otherwise healthy adults and children are walking around dehydrated, so many that dehydration has reached epidemic proportions. Under scrutiny, however, this assertion fails to hold water. That's the topic of this week's Healthcare Triage.
This was based on a piece Aaron wrote for the Upshot a while ago. If you want to read more, links can be found there: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/25/upshot/no-you-do-not-have-to-drink-8-glasses-of-water-a-day.html
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
http://www.twitter.com/aaronecarroll
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http://www.twitter.com/johngreen
http://www.twitter.com/olsenvideo
And the housekeeping:
1) You can support Healthcare Triage on Patreon: http://vid.io/xqXr Every little bit helps make the show better!
2) Check out our Facebook page: http://goo.gl/LnOq5z
3) We still have merchandise available at http://www.hctmerch.com

Cholesterol! For decades it's been demonized as the reason so many people have heart disease. We 've been watching it, and avoiding it like the plague.
Why? Does that do any good? The answer may surprise – and depress you. This is Healthcare Triage.
For those of you who want to read more, go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=61787
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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You can support Healthcare Triage on Patreon! We're raising money to make the show sustainable, and you can help. http://www.patreon.com/healthcaretriage
I spend a lot of time writing and talking about what isn't true. Over the past few months, we've had lots of episodes talking about how many nutrition recommendations aren't supported by science. I've argued that what many people are telling you may be inaccurate. In response, lots of you have asked me what nutrition recommendations should say.
The truth is that it's much easier to tell you what not to do, than to tell you what to do. But we don't avoid the hard questions. Recently I shared my nutrition recommendations over at the Upshot at the New York Times, and they were surprisingly popular. So I'm going to share them with you, here on Healthcare Triage
You should go read that piece, which all of this is based on. References and links can be found there: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/21/upshot/simple-rules-for-healthy-eating.html
Want a poster of the information in today's episode? It's free and available here: http://ow.ly/NaESK
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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Singapore is a small city-state that likely isn't as well known to you as some of the other countries we've discussed before. But they've got one of the most fascinating health care systems around. It's cheap, it's pretty much universal, and it achieves some amazingly strong outcomes. It's also much different in structure than other systems we've covered before. Watch and learn - you'll be glad you did.
If you want to learn more, there's pretty much only one book you need to read. It's short, it's awesome, and it's still free in Kindle format. It's called Affordable Excellence: The Singapore Health System, and you can get a copy here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CDUS7WS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00CDUS7WS&linkCode=as2&tag=dotswyogu-20
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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Do you think that sugar makes kids hyper? Well, you're wrong. Yes, WRONG. How do we know? Randomized controlled trials.
RCTs are pretty much the most robust study design there is, and also the only way to prove causality. This week's episode of Healthcare Triage explains how randomized controlled trials work, and why they are superior to other types of studies. It also explains how they've been used to prove, without a doubt, that sugar doesn't make kids hyper. Don't believe it? Watch the video and argue with us in the comments below if you're still not convinced.
Make sure you subscribe above so you don't miss any upcoming episodes!
Read more on Aaron's blog: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/
Link to a meta-analysis of many of the studies discussed here: http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=391812
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen - Graphics
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Healthcare Triage is almost one year old. To celebrate, we're going to give you… more Healthcare Triage. Two episodes a week. Monday will be a traditional episode, full of all the detail and knowledge you've come to expect.
But a second episode, on Friday, will be more of a newsy episode. We're going to cover topics that have been floating around social media and your favorite websites. It's Healthcare Triage News.
Today's episode is about Ebola and salt. Enjoy!
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
http://www.twitter.com/aaronecarroll
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Everyone just knows that violence is on the rise, especially among kids. Everyone just knows that violent video games have something to do with it. Except violence isn't on the rise, as we showed in our "Sky isn't falling episode". And there's really no evidence that video games are the cause of violence anyway. Step away from my video games!
Those of you who want to read more and see references can go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=55217
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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http://www.twitter.com/realjohngreen
http://www.twitter.com/olsenvideo

We've got mugs and posters! Get 'em here: http://dft.ba/-HCTmerch
Sleep! It's probably the one single thing we spend the most time doing. Sleeping eight hours a night means that you'd spend literally one third of your life asleep. But most of us are getting less than that, and we probably need more. Sleep is important! It's also the topic of this week's Healthcare Triage.
For those of you who want to read more, go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=61025
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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Three times in the last two weeks, people - a patient, a colleague and my wife - told me stories about how out of control the price of EpiPens were. Monday, my New York Times colleagues recounted in detail how expensive the devices have become in recent years. All tell the tale of how much even basic health care can cost in the United States.
But by digging a bit further, the story of EpiPens can also explain so much of what's wrong with our health care system. That's the topic of this week's Healthcare Triage.
This episode was adapted from a column Aaron wrote for The Upshot. Links to further reading and sources can be found there: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/24/upshot/the-epipen-a-case-study-in-health-care-system-dysfunction.html
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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http://www.twitter.com/johngreen
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And the housekeeping:
1) You can support Healthcare Triage on Patreon: http://vid.io/xqXr Every little bit helps make the show better!
2) Check out our Facebook page: http://goo.gl/LnOq5z
3) We still have merchandise available at http://www.hctmerch.com

Lately, I've become a target for people who like to tell me that "I'm doing nutrition" wrong. Evidently, some people don't agree with my plea, "Don't judge" when it comes to what others eat.
One of the things that horrifies my friends is that I don't eat breakfast. I'm just not hungry in the morning. A cup of coffee, and that's all I need until lunch. I've been that way for decades.
This means that I'm subjected to periodic lectures on how breakfast is "the most important meal of the day". Yeah, that's a myth. It's also the topic of this week's Healthcare Triage.
Those of you who want to read more can go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=69839
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
http://www.twitter.com/aaronecarroll
http://www.twitter.com/crashcoursestan
http://www.twitter.com/johngreen
http://www.twitter.com/olsenvideo
And the housekeeping:
1) You can support Healthcare Triage on Patreon: http://vid.io/xqXr Every little bit helps make the show better!
2) Check out our Facebook page: http://goo.gl/LnOq5z
3) We still have merchandise available at http://www.hctmerch.com

Our episode on Organic food was a hit, but lots of you had questions in the comments asking about the safety of artificial sweeteners. We live to serve, so this week's episode is about the research in that area. These chemicals get a bad rap, but you might be surprised by what you learn by watching. Send your hate tweets to Aaron. He's used to them.
Make sure you subscribe above so you don't miss any upcoming episodes!
Here are references for all the stuff I talk about: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=53215
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen - Graphics
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Healthcare Triage #13
We are seeing a lot of changes recently as to what we are "allowed" to eat. When the FDA decided to get rid of trans fats, I applauded. When New York City tried to ban sodas bigger than 16 ounces, though, I booed. Why is this not hypocritical? Watch and find out.
Make sure you subscribe above so you don't miss any upcoming episodes!
Data for all the things I talk about are here : http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/healthcare-triage-banning-trans-fats-versus-sodas/
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen - Graphics
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Americans seem very afraid of cancer. Much of this fear is legitimate. Cancer is a significant cause of death. Unlike other causes, it often seems to come out of nowhere. It's the "silent killer".
But evidence increasingly argues that cancer may be preventable, too. Unfortunately, this has inflamed as much as it has assuaged people's fears.
Cancer prevention is the topic of this week's Healthcare Triage.
This episode was adapted from a column Aaron wrote for The Upshot. Links to references and further reading can be found there: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/06/upshot/helpless-to-prevent-cancer-actually-a-lot-is-in-your-control.html?_r=0
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
http://www.twitter.com/aaronecarroll
http://www.twitter.com/crashcoursestan
http://www.twitter.com/johngreen
http://www.twitter.com/olsenvideo
And the housekeeping:
1) You can support Healthcare Triage on Patreon: http://vid.io/xqXr Every little bit helps make the show better!
2) Check out our Facebook page: http://goo.gl/LnOq5z
3) We still have merchandise available at http://www.hctmerch.com

http://www.healthcare.gov
Healthcare Triage is a new series from Dr. Aaron Carroll and the team behind Crash Course and Mental Floss Videos. In this episode, Aaron gets a visit from noted hypochondriac John Green, and allays some of his fears about Obamacare. He provides an overview of what is going to happen on October 1st, when the Affordable Care Act, AKA Obamacare, goes into effect. Aaron will talk stuff like individual mandates, subsidies, and the three-legged stool of Obamacare, which is not a real stool. You'll learn who exactly is affected by the changes on October 1st, get a brief tour of healthcare.gov, and learn a little about alien alternative medicine, which also isn't even real. The rest of the video is totally real. All this, plus the aforementioned metaphorical furniture should make this pretty hard to resist.
Read more on Aaron's blog: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/
Written by Aaron Carroll
Produced by Stan Muller
Graphics by Mark Olsen
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Switzerland! It's a gorgeous alpine nation of 8 million people. It's a parliamentary republic made up of 26 cantons. I've never been, but I hear great things about it. The country should free to fly us over so we can learn even more. But what I do know about its healthcare system, I'll be telling you in this episode of Healthcare Triage.
Those of you who want to read more and see references can go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=57335
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
http://www.twitter.com/aaronecarroll
http://www.twitter.com/crashcoursestan
http://www.twitter.com/realjohngreen
http://www.twitter.com/olsenvideo

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I've found that of almost all of the topics I write about over at my blog, the one that stirs up the most controversy, the one that generates me the most hate, the most emails and the most tweets is e-cigarettes. Defenders of them are very passionate, and surprisingly organized. Those that dislike them are no less dedicated. But let's get past the rhetoric. E-cigarettes are the topic of this week's Healthcare Triage.
For those of you who want to read more, go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=60386
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
http://www.twitter.com/aaronecarroll
http://www.twitter.com/crashcoursestan
http://www.twitter.com/johngreen
http://www.twitter.com/olsenvideo

Last week we discussed the United States health care system. This week we discuss Canada's. We also take some time to bust some myths about their single payer health care system. Fight about it in the comments below.
Make sure you subscribe above so you don't miss any upcoming episodes!
References for a lot of the "myths" about Canada can be found here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/in-defense-of-canada/
Aaron's series on quality is here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/how-do-we-rate-the-quality-of-the-us-health-care-system-introduction/
Canadian wait time data is here: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/qual/acces/prov-eng.php
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen - Graphics
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Why do doctors get sued? How can malpractice suits be avoided? It turns out, the answer may be simple. Defensive medicine refers to the idea that doctors are forced to order extra tests, perform extra procedures, or push for more office visits because they think that without them, they're at greater risk for being sued. This is in spite of the fact that studies don't support the notion that this extra care actually does reduce their risk.
What might help physicians to get sued less often would be for them to get along better with their patients. Or at least, they could become better communicators. That's the topic of this week's Healthcare Triage.
This was based on a piece Aaron wrote for the NYT. Links to further reading can be found there: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/02/upshot/to-be-sued-less-doctors-should-talk-to-patients-more.html
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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And the housekeeping:
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2) Check out our Facebook page: http://goo.gl/LnOq5z
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For those of you who want to read more, go here:
http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=63905

In the last few years the rates of vaccine preventable illness have been on the rise. This isn't just something that's happening in the United States – it's happening throughout the world. Often, these outbreaks begin with unvaccinated people. They spread through them, too. Outbreaks occur because of a breakdown in herd immunity. That's the topic of this week's Healthcare Triage.
Those of you who want to read more and see references can go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=57180
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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Is sitting bad for you? It turns out, sitting is really, really bad for you. Sitting at your desk could shorten your life. So get up and walk around, OK?
Last week I talked about the many ways exercise is awesome. This week I want to focus on one way it's not. Weight loss. Sorry, but that's the topic of this week's Healthcare Triage.
Those of you who want to read more can go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=64147
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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http://www.twitter.com/johngreen
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And the housekeeping:
1) You can support Healthcare Triage on Patreon: http://vid.io/xqXr Every little bit helps make the show better!
2) Check out our Facebook page: http://goo.gl/LnOq5z
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The Healthcare Triage mug is clinically proven to be the best vessel for holding hot drinks. Get yours here: http://dft.ba/-HCTmerch
Last week we talked about sleep. We talked about how much the average person needs, and how much they get. We also talked about how you can't just rely on "averages" to determine how much you need. Sleep in a personal thing, and we all need different amounts.
But sleep is incredibly important. You have to do it. Not getting enough, or sleep deprivation, is a real, and bizarre thing. It's also the topic of this week's Healthcare Triage.
For those of you who want to read more, go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=61150
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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Many people have to wait too long to see a doctor. And it could get worse. If, as many people believe, we have a shortage of doctors in the United States, then it follows that we can fix this only by training and hiring more physicians.
As with almost everything in our health care system, though, it's complicated. Some people think there's no shortage at all - just a poor distribution of the doctors we have.
That's the topic of this week's Healthcare Triage.
This episode was adapted from a column Aaron wrote for the Upshot. Links to sources and further reading can be found there: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/08/upshot/a-doctor-shortage-lets-take-a-closer-look.html
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
http://www.twitter.com/aaronecarroll
http://www.twitter.com/crashcoursestan
http://www.twitter.com/johngreen
http://www.twitter.com/olsenvideo
And the housekeeping:
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2) Check out our Facebook page: http://goo.gl/LnOq5z
3) We still have merchandise available at http://www.hctmerch.com

Marijuana!You guys always want to know more about pot from Healthcare Triage. It's also one of the most controversial and complex subjects we cover. And it's time for an update on what we know, versus what we think, when it comes to the drug.
That's the topic of this week's Healthcare Triage.
You can find more information, and read the study we reference here: http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=24625&_ga=1.198930671.1791292794.1484233196
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
http://www.twitter.com/aaronecarroll
http://www.twitter.com/crashcoursestan
http://www.twitter.com/johngreen
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And the housekeeping:
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2) Check out our Facebook page: http://goo.gl/LnOq5z
3) We still have merchandise available at http://www.hctmerch.com

Thanks, in part, to the generous support of the NIHCM, this month we are releasing four special episodes on Opioids. We hope you enjoy them. This week's episode:
The Science of Opioids - How do opioids work? We look at the physiological processes that let opioids produce their effects in human bodies.
Those of you who want to read more can go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=70538
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
http://www.twitter.com/aaronecarroll
http://www.twitter.com/crashcoursestan
http://www.twitter.com/johngreen
http://www.twitter.com/olsenvideo
And the housekeeping:
1) You can support Healthcare Triage on Patreon: http://vid.io/xqXr Every little bit helps make the show better!
2) Check out our Facebook page: http://goo.gl/LnOq5z
3) We still have merchandise available at http://www.hctmerch.com

Thanks to Audible.com for supporting this episode of Healthcare Triage. You can download a free audio book of your choice at Audible.com: http://www.audible.com/triage
When I was a kid, I remember people talking about putting on suntan lotion to help them absorb the sun's rays. Those days are over. Too much sun can be terrible for you. Besides the fact that it significantly increases the risk of skin cancer, the sun will age your skin and make you look older, too. Who wants that? Today, we use sunscreen to protect us from the sun. But most of us are doing it wrong. How so? Watch and learn.
Those of you who want to read more and see references can go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=56836
Additionally, Aaron's new book is out! Please consider buying a copy. He'd really appreciate it! http://dontputthatinthere.com/#buy_the_book
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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While we have discussed the dangerous effects of alcohol abuse and misuse, that doesn't mean it's always bad. Besides being part of many complex and delicious beverages, there are any number of studies which show that alcohol is linked to health benefits.
That doesn't mean it's all good news, either, or that the evidence is a slam dunk. There's certainly enough, though, to warrant a thorough review. That's the topic of this week's Healthcare Triage.
This was adapted from a column Aaron wrote for the Upshot. Links to further reading and references can be found there: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/22/upshot/alcohols-effect-on-health-what-the-science-says.html
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
http://www.twitter.com/aaronecarroll
http://www.twitter.com/crashcoursestan
http://www.twitter.com/johngreen
http://www.twitter.com/olsenvideo
And the housekeeping:
1) You can support Healthcare Triage on Patreon: http://vid.io/xqXr Every little bit helps make the show better!
2) Check out our Facebook page: http://goo.gl/LnOq5z
3) We still have merchandise available at http://www.hctmerch.com

One of the most common things you all seem obsessed about is supplements. I get questions from Healthcare Triage viewers all the time. You're obsessed. We've covered them before here on Healthcare Triage News as well. But there's more news, so here's another episodes. Updates on supplements today on Healthcare Triage News:
For those of you who want to read more, go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=62003
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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http://www.twitter.com/crashcoursestan
http://www.twitter.com/johngreen
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Thanks, in part, to the generous support of the NIHCM, this month we are releasing four special episodes on Opioids. We hope you enjoy them. This week's episode:
The History of Opioids - We will give a historical overview of people and opioids. We will look at when people first started using opioids, how they've changed over the years, and ways that they've been both amazingly positive as really effective painkillers and devastating to individuals and social orders. We will explore the early accounts of opiate use, addiction, and treatment, and touch on the Opium Wars in China. The evolution from raw opium latex to the powerful drugs derived from opium today traces a clear history of increasing addiction as opioids were available in more and more powerful preparations.
Those of you who want to read more can go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=70453
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
http://www.twitter.com/aaronecarroll
http://www.twitter.com/crashcoursestan
http://www.twitter.com/johngreen
http://www.twitter.com/olsenvideo
And the housekeeping:
1) You can support Healthcare Triage on Patreon: http://vid.io/xqXr Every little bit helps make the show better!
2) Check out our Facebook page: http://goo.gl/LnOq5z
3) We still have merchandise available at http://www.hctmerch.com

Can we keep drug prices low without hurting innovation? Well, drugs are a lot cheaper in Europe than in the US, and there's still plenty of innovation over there. So what's going on? It's called reference pricing, and it's pretty much genius.
Those of you who want to read more can go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=72475
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
http://www.twitter.com/aaronecarroll
http://www.twitter.com/crashcoursestan
http://www.twitter.com/johngreen
http://www.twitter.com/olsenvideo
And the housekeeping:
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2) Check out our Facebook page: http://goo.gl/LnOq5z
3) We still have merchandise available at http://www.hctmerch.com

For better or for worse, whenever many are asked about how they would help control spending in the US health-care system, tort reform always seems to be one of the first things offered as a solution. That's because there's a malpractice crisis! And tort reform will cure it! Except, neither of those things is really true. Watch and learn why not.
Those of you who want to read more and see references can go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=55842
John Green -- Executive Producer
Stan Muller -- Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll -- Writer
Mark Olsen -- Graphics
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http://www.twitter.com/realjohngreen
http://www.twitter.com/olsenvideo

Antidepressants are medications that can help relieve symptoms of depression, social anxiety disorder, anxiety disorders, seasonal affective disorder, and dysthymia, or mild chronic depression, as well as other conditions.
They aim to correct chemical imbalances of neurotransmitters in the brain that are believed to be responsible for changes in mood and behavior.
Depression Medications (Antidepressants)

These are the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant.
Serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are used to treat major depression, mood disorders, and possibly but less commonly attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, menopausal symptoms, fibromyalgia, and chronic neuropathic pain.
SNRIs raise levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, two neurotransmitters in the brain that play a key role in stabilizing mood.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants. They are effective in treating depression, and they have fewer side effects than the other antidepressants.
SSRIs block the reuptake, or absorption, of serotonin in the brain. This makes it easier for the brain cells to receive and send messages, resulting in better and more stable moods.
They are called "selective" because they mainly seem to affect serotonin, and not the other neurotransmitters.